Fluid-rressure regulator



(No Model.)

P. G. VAN WI-E.

FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR. v I No. 539,205. Patented May 14', 1895.

at the end of this specification.

NITED STATES PETER G.'VAN WIE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLUID-PRESSURE REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,205, dated May 14, 1895. Application filed April 14, 1894. fierial No. 507,617. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER G. VAN WIE,,a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois,.have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid-Pressure Regulators, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My present invention has for its object primarily to provide a fluid pressure regulator of such character that a substantial uniform pressure of fluid will be had upon the dis-" charge side of the regulator regardless of the degree of pressure upon the opposite side; and my invention is more especially designed to produce a pressure regulator designed for illuminating gas and that shall so accurately, uniformly and steadily control the degree of pressure upon the discharge side of the regulator that there shall be no material fluctuations in the pressure upon the discharge side of the regulator.

My invention consists in the various features of improvement hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and is specifically pointed out in the claims Figure 1 is a view in central vertical section through a pressure-regulator embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail enlarged sectional view showing a portion of the diaphragm-chamber, diaphragm, and its connections.

A designates the valve casing of the regulator, this casing being provided with a transverse division plate a through which is formed the passage for the flow of fluid from the induction to the discharge side of the casing. Within the passage formed in the division plate a is preferably set a tube B having a flaring lower end b within which will move the valve that serves to control the passage of fluid through the casing A. The upper end of the tube B connects the casing A with the diaphragm chamber D and from this diaphragm chamber a suitable port 01 leads back to the interior ofthe casing A upon the upper side of the division plate a. Within the diaphragm chamber D is placed the movable diaphragm E that is connected to the stem 0 of the controlling valve 0. The diaphragm E consists preferably of a disk of copper or like non-corrosive metal and may be'clamped in an air-tight manner upon the valve stem 0 p will be seen that the diaphragm E is exposed' to the pressure of the fluid passing through the casing A and, consequently when the pressure of fluid within the casing lifts the diaphragm E, acorresponding lifting of the controlling valve 0 will occur.

In thepreferred form of my invention the movable diaphragm E forms the outer plate of a collapsible air-tight chamber, this airtight chamber being preferably formed by connecting to the diaphragm E a ring of leather F, the upper edge of this leather ring being fastened to a depending'flange g upon the under side of a plate G that has its outer edge clamped between the top of the diaphragm chamber D and the removable cover D of this chamber.

By referring more particularly to Fig. 2' of the drawings, the preferred manner of forming the collapsible air-tight chamber will be seen. The diaphragm E has its outer edge formed with a flange e that is provided with a peripheral groove to receive the lower edge of the leather ring F which is held firmly within the groove of the flange e by means of a wire 2. It will also be seen by reference to this figure of the drawings that the top plate G of the air-tight chamber has its depending flange g formed with an annular groove within which the upper edgeof the leather ringF will be held by a suitable wire 3. It will be understood of course that the edges of the leather ring F will be cemented to the flanges e and gin order to render the chamber perfectly air-tight. I have shown the top plate G as provided with openings g and as provided with a central opening through which passes the upper part c of the valve stem.

In order to fold the leather ring F in such manner that it will be readily collapsed inwardly, after the manner of a bellows, I first thoroughly Wet this ring and then turn it inward as far as possible toward the center of the diaphragm plate, by tying astring tightly about the middle of the ring F. The diaphragm E is then forced toward the plate G thereby compressing and flattening the leather ring F and causing it to form plaits or folds. After it has dried in this position it is softened by applying oil thereto and it is found that it is always in readiness to fold or collapse upon the lines on which it was creased while in a wet condition. It will be understood of course that this creasing of he leather ring F will be effected before the diaphragm is placed Within the diaphragm chamber.

My object in forming the diaphragm chamber with a removable cover D that is secured to the diaphragm chamber in any convenient manner as for example by bolts d, is to not only enable the diaphragm to be placed in position but also to enable it to be withdrawn in case it becomes broken or worn to such extent as to require to be replaced. To the top of the diaphragm chamber D is connected a neck H, the upper portion of which forms a support for the weightsK held therein, these weights being preferably perforated to admit the upper end of the stem that is provided at a slight distance beneath the weights with a projection 0 to engage the lower weights when the stem has been shifted a sufficient distance. The neck H is preferably provided with a series of seats h or steps whereon the edges of the weights K will be individually sustained. The neck H is preferably united to the cover D of the diaphragm chamber by a screw-thread connection that may be fitted with a set-nut k My purpose in thus providing for the adjustment of the neck H is to enable the weights to be brought into action at an earlier or later point in the movement of the valve 0. The

upper end of the neck H is provided with a cap M that has a depending screw-threaded flange m to engage the correspondingly threaded upper end of the neck H, and when this cap is in position it tightly closes the interior of the neck and as well also the interior of the air chamber above the diaphragm from access of air thereto. It will be ob served that the cap M is formed with an olfset m to give room for the upward movement of the stem 0 and I have shown this offset an as provided with a set-screw m although this is not regarded as essential.

From the construction as thus far defined it will be seen that if the parts be assumed to be in the position illustrated, then when fluid under pressure is admitted to the casing A, the diaphragm E will be lifted in extent proportionate to the degree of fluid pressure. If it be assumed that the lowermost one of the weights K is in such position that it Will be engaged by the projection c of the stem 0 when the diaphragm E has been raised by a pressure of say ten ounces, then it is obvious that when the diaphragm has been lifted to this extent, its lowermost weight will be raised from off its seat hand will to such extent oppose the upward movement of the diaphragm. If, however, the pressure of fluid increases sufficiently, say to thirty ounces to cause a further lifting of the diaphragm E until the middle weight is raised from off its seat 7L, then this weight will also oppose its load to the further upward movement of the diaphragm, and so on until each of the weights of the series has been lifted and until the erwise any leakage of gas through or around i the diaphragm would freely escape and might be attended with serious consequences, but it is manifest that when an air-tight chamber is thus provided, provision should be made to create a vacuum or sufficient of a vacuum within this chamber to avoid the back press ure of air so resisting the upward movement of the diaphragm as to materially interfere with its action. I therefore provide that the air chamber above the diaphragm shall beset within the diaphragm chamber in collapsed condition so that when this chamber is extended by the downward movement of the diaphragm under the pressure of the weights and by reason of the weight of the valve and valve stem, there will not be sufficient air remaining within the chamber to interfere with the upward lifting of the diaphragm by the pressure of the fluid passing through the governor.

In order to enable the air chamber above the diaphragm to be collapsed after the parts have been set in position for use, I prefer to provide the casing A with a rod P that can be moved inward against the valve 0 so as to force the valve stem 0 to collapse the air chamber above the diaphragm E. When the air chamber above the diaphragm E has been thus collapsed the vent hole in the top of the cap M will be closed by the screw m (if the cap M has been already fixed in position), thereby guarding against the access of air to the interior of the neck II and of the air chamber above the diaphragm E. The rod I, which is preferably a screw-rod will then be withdrawn to the position seen in the drawings so as to allow the weights K, and the weight of the valve 0 and of the valve stem to force downward the diaphragm E and thus distend the air chamber above it.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fluid pressure regulator, the combination with a valve casing having a passage therethrough and a valve for controlling the flow through said passage, of a movable dia" phragm exposed to the fluid pressure and connected with said valve, an air tight chamber above said diaphragm, a weight or weights arranged to oppose the movement of said diaphragm and. held within said air tight chamher and a suitable support within said air tight chamber for holding said weights normally out of action, substantially as described.

2. In a fluid pressure regulator, the combination with a valve casing having a passage therethrough, and a valve for controlling the flow of fluid through said passage, of a movable diaphragm exposed to the fluid pressure and connected with said valve, an air tight chamber above said diaphragm, an adjustable neck at the top of said air tight chamber provided with supports for weights and a stem extending from said diaphragm up into said neck and into position to engage said weights, substantially as described.

In a fluid pressure regulator, the combination with a valve casing having a passage therethrough, and a valve for controlling the flow of fluid through said passage, of a movable diaphragm within said. casing and exposed to fluid pressure therein, a stem connected to said diaphragm a Weight or weights to be engaged by said stem and a neck on top of said casing into which said stem extends and said neck being provided with a series of seats or supports for holding said weights normally out of action, substantially as described.

4. In a fluid pressure regulator, the combination with a valve casing having a passage therethrough, and a valve for controlling the flow through said passage, of a movable diaphragm exposed to the fluid pressure and connected to said valve, a valve stem passing through said diaphragm, an air tight chamher above said diaphragm, a stem or rod extending from said diaphragm up into said air tight chamber, a series of weights arranged to be engaged by said stem, and a suitable support for individually holding said weights normally out of action, substantially as described.

5. In a fluid pressure regulator, the combi nation with a valve casing having a passage therethrough and a valve for controlling the flow through said passage, of a movable diaphragm exposed to the fluid pressure and connected to said valve, a diaphragm chamber within which said diaphragm is held, a ring of flexible material connected to said diaphragm, a plate connected to the opposite edge of said flexible ring and attached to the diaphragm chamber and a removable cover for said diaphragm chamber, substantially as described.

6. In a fluid pressure regulator the combination with a valve casing having a passage therethrough and a valve for controlling the flow through said passage, of a movable diaphragm exposed to the fluid pressure and con- 6 nected to said valve, an air-tight collapsible chamber to which said valve is connected and a rod extending through the casing and whereby said air-tight chamber may be collapsed in order to produce a partial vacuum 70 therein, substantially as described.

PETER G. VAN WIE.

\Vitnesses:

GEo. P. FISHER, Jr., FRED GERLACH. 

